The Difference Between Día de los Muertos and Halloween

Written by me for PopSugar

Pan de muertos, la catrina, flor de cempasúchil, traditional colors, dishes, and altares or altars: all of these play an important role in what many know as Day of the Dead, but what my culture and family refer to as Día de los Muertos. “Hija, preparemos el altar” or “Honey, let’s arrange the altar” are words my mother would say days before Nov. 1. Usually the preparation begins on Oct. 31, the same day Halloween is celebrated in the United States, and while the holidays almost overlap in date, it’s important to understand they are different.